HSE’s needs appraisal proposals deferred

HSE proposals on how it would conduct Assessments Of Need (AON) for children have been deferred for a number of weeks after numerous objections.

The move is understood to have come after trade union Fórsa raised its concerns, adding to the objections voiced by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI), the Association of Occupational Therapists (AOTI), and others, who had claimed the changes might lead to misdiagnosis and other issues.

Solicitor Gareth Noble, who has represented families who sought a judicial review regarding the previous model of AON, tweeted: “HSE has deferred implementing new procedure for Children’s assessments of Need for ‘at least another four weeks’.”